Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Justice

Oral Answers to Questions

Daniel Zeichner Excerpts
Tuesday 10th July 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rory Stewart Portrait Rory Stewart
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The entire purpose of the small claims court is to make sure that minor injuries—in this case, the claims limit was set in 1991 at less than £1,000 and will rise to £2,000—are dealt with without lawyers. The same thing happens in most of our European partner countries. Norway is a very good example of a model in which exactly such cases are taken through without lawyers, up to a much higher value than would be the case here.

Daniel Zeichner Portrait Daniel Zeichner (Cambridge) (Lab)
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The Under-Secretary of State for Justice, the hon. and learned Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Lucy Frazer), wants to close the magistrates court in Cambridge. What assessment has she made of suggested ways to keep a magistrates court in Cambridge, and when will she make a decision?

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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The decision about the magistrates court in Cambridge will be for me to make. I want to look at all the evidence and the representations that have been made, and I will make a decision in due course.